Read Online Fortune's Legacy by Maureen Child - Free Book Online Page B

softly.
    â€œIt’s Ryan,” Susan said. “He doesn’t have much longer.”
    â€œOh, God.” Kyra squeezed her eyes shut and took the blow. She’d known for a month or more that Ryan Fortune was dying, but somehow, Kyra had convinced herself that he would find a way to beat the death sentence handed him. If anyone could have, it would have been him. “How long?”
    â€œNo one knows for sure,” Susan said with a sigh. “But my guess is a few days at most.”
    â€œI’m so sorry,” she said softly, knowing it wasn’t enough. Could never be enough.
    â€œI know. Me, too. It’s just so sad at the ranch right now, Kyra.” She paused, then continued. “Ryan’s kids are coming in, gathering. There are telegrams and flowers arriving every minute, it seems. And just yesterday,two ambassadors and a prince showed up at the Double Crown just to say goodbye to him.”
    In spite of the sorrow welling within, Kyra smiled. “Not surprising, is it? Ryan’s touched more people’s lives than anyone I’ve ever known. He’s always seemed larger than life. Hard to believe he’s going to die.”
    â€œLily’s not having much luck accepting that.” Tears clogged Susan’s voice, but she choked them back. “I swear, she’s holding on by the skin of her teeth.”
    â€œThis must be killing her.”
    â€œBy inches.”
    Kyra rubbed her temples, massaging a small headache trying to settle in. “Is there anything I can do?”
    â€œHonestly? No.” Susan blew out a breath and said, “I just wanted you to know. To be prepared.”
    How did you prepare for something like this? Ryan Fortune, an admirable man to the rest of the world, had always seemed like the kingpin of the Fortune family to Kyra. He was a presence. Not only to the family, but to Texas. The whole world was going to seem just a little bit smaller without him. And when he was really gone, she wondered, without his kindness, his leadership to lean on, what would the rest of them do?
    â€œHey,” her sister asked, “you okay?”
    â€œNot especially,” Kyra answered, then squared her shoulders, as she knew Ryan would expect them all to do. “But I will be.”
    â€œIt’s not going to be easy on any of us, Kyra. But we’ll all get through it.”
    â€œI know. Look, do you need anything? I mean, I’mguessing you’re staying close to the Double Crown, helping out.”
    Susan sighed into the phone. “Yeah, I’ve pretty much been camping out in the cottage I used to rent. Ethan’s been a sweetheart about this, too.”
    â€œHe’s a good guy, Susan. He understands what family means.”
    â€œYeah. Guess he does at that. And God knows Ryan means as much to him as to any of us.”
    Kyra reached for the dark blue sweater, dragged it across her lap and idly started folding it again as she said, “I’m supposed to fly out to Colorado this afternoon. Some business meeting for Voltage. I can try to get out of it.”
    â€œDon’t. Go to your meeting. And don’t feel bad about leaving town, honey. There’s nothing anyone can do, and to be honest, there’re so many people here now, I wish I could get rid of some of them. But Lily says that Ryan is enjoying seeing everyone.”
    â€œOkay, then. I’ll only be gone a couple of days, though. So I’ll come right over as soon as I get home.” It didn’t seem right, leaving just when her family was suffering a crisis. “How’s Lily holding up?”
    â€œAbout how you’d expect.” Speaking to someone else, Susan said, “Yes, I’ll be right there. Hey, Kyra, gotta go. I’ll keep you posted.”
    Kyra held on to the phone long after her sister had hung up, as if needing even that tenuous connection with her family. She should be staying here, in Red Rock. She should